Queen Camilla gave the Household Cavalry’s newest Drum Horse its name in a ceremony ahead of Trooping the Colour.
At Clarence House, the Queen met with members of the Household Cavalry, including the newly-named mare, Juno. According to tradition, Drum Horses receive names from classic mythology.
Juno was the Roman goddess of women, marriage and childbirth and is the equivalent of Hera in Greek mythology. The last Drum Horse was named Perseus in 2017 by the late Elizabeth II.
Queen Camilla met Juno and presented her with a headcollar and brass name plaque ahead of Saturday’s big event. Juno has been trained for two years and will officially pass training at Trooping the Colour, where she will lead the parade from the Mall to Horse Guards Parade.
According to the Royal Family: “To be considered ready for Parade, Juno has shown that she is able to be ridden with reins operated by the stirrups, while carrying an adult in full ceremonial uniform, along with the two silver kettledrums. She has also proven that she is able to cope with crowd noise and be confident to stand out in front and lead the band.”
Queen Camilla met with the Commanding Officer of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and Juno’s breeder, Huw Murphy, who owns the Dyfed Shire Horses in Wales, where the mare was born.
The King and Queen met Juno as a newborn in 2018 on a visit to the Dyfed Shire Horses stables. During their meeting on 15 June, Queen Camilla was also presented with a portrait of Juno painted by Mandy Shepherd.
The Household Cavalry was created by the union of the Blues & Royals and the Life Guards, two of the most senior regiments in the Army, and routinely performs state and public duties in London.
